Economy, jobs and prices in Karlsruhe, Stadtkreis (Baden-Württemberg, Germany): official figures
GDP per person was 74,200 purchasing power standards (PPS) in 2023, 193% of the EU average (117% for Germany); 21st highest of 400 districts in Germany.
How big is the economy of Karlsruhe, Stadtkreis?
The local economy produced €25.6 billion of output (GDP) in 2023.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people work in Karlsruhe, Stadtkreis?
About 240,790 people worked in Karlsruhe, Stadtkreis in 2023 (employment by place of work).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Karlsruhe?
The unemployment rate in the city of Karlsruhe was 4.6% in 2023, 176th lowest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 5.0%. In 2019 the figure was 3.9%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow high is youth unemployment in Karlsruhe?
At 3.3% in 2023, the unemployment rate among under-25s in the city of Karlsruhe ranked 127th lowest of 400 German districts (district median 4.4%). That is up from 2.9% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many long-term unemployed are there in Karlsruhe?
In 2023, the city of Karlsruhe recorded a share of jobless people unemployed for a year or longer of 28.9%, compared with 31.8% in the median German district, which ranks it 150th lowest of 400 districts. In 2019 the figure was 24.3%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the average salary in Karlsruhe?
The median monthly gross wage of full-time employees in the city of Karlsruhe was €4,384 in 2023, 24th highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at €3,604. In 2019 the figure was €3,913.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the gender pay gap in Karlsruhe?
The median full-time wage of women as a share of men's in the city of Karlsruhe was 84.4% in 2023, 91st lowest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at 88.5%. That is up from 83.2% in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the purchasing power in Karlsruhe?
The purchasing power per resident in the city of Karlsruhe was €30,439 in 2023, 123rd highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at €29,371. That is up from €24,595 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many mini-jobs are there in Karlsruhe?
In 2023, the city of Karlsruhe recorded a share of private-sector jobs that are low-paid 'mini-jobs' of 15.2%, compared with 19.7% in the median German district, which ranks it 90th lowest of 400 districts. In 2019 the figure was 16.3%.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many people commute to Karlsruhe?
The commuter balance (net commuters per 100 jobs) in the city of Karlsruhe was +32.3 in 2023, 30th highest of 400 districts in Germany; the median district stood at -11.7. That is up from +30.5 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyHow many businesses go bankrupt in Karlsruhe?
In 2023, the city of Karlsruhe had 5.1 company insolvency applications per 1,000 businesses, compared with 3.9 in the median German district, which ranks it 91st highest of 400 districts. It was 3.6 in 2019.
Source: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung · saved copyWhat is the main industry in Karlsruhe, Stadtkreis?
The largest part of the economy of Karlsruhe, Stadtkreis in 2023 was trade, transport, hospitality and communications, at 28.8% of gross value added, followed by finance, property and business services (26.3%).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow industrial is Karlsruhe, Stadtkreis?
Factories, mines and energy produced 21.4% of the value added in Karlsruhe, Stadtkreis in 2023, against 24.5% for Germany.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow fast is the economy of Karlsruhe, Stadtkreis growing?
Gross value added rose from €16.9 billion in 2015 to €23.4 billion in 2023 in current prices, an increase of 38% before inflation.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat jobs do people do in Karlsruhe, Stadtkreis?
Of the 240,790 jobs located in Karlsruhe, Stadtkreis in 2023, 34% in public services, education, health and other services, 11% in industry and 0.1% in farming, forestry and fishing.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyAre jobs growing in Karlsruhe, Stadtkreis?
The number of people working in Karlsruhe, Stadtkreis rose by 3.3% between 2015 and 2023, to 240,790.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow Karlsruhe, Stadtkreis compares with other districts in Germany
Unemployment rate (% of civilian labour force) (2023)
Karlsruhe, Stadtkreis ranks 225 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Anteil der Arbeitslosen an den zivilen Erwerbspersonen in %
| Rank | Area | Unemployment rate (% of civilian labour force) |
|---|---|---|
| 222 | Ansbach, Kreisfreie Stadt | 4.6% |
| 223 | Weimarer Land | 4.6% |
| 224 | Teltow-Fläming | 4.6% |
| 225 | Karlsruhe, Stadtkreis | 4.6% |
| 226 | Steinfurt | 4.6% |
| 227 | Gifhorn | 4.5% |
| 228 | Ammerland | 4.5% |
Median monthly gross wage, full-time employees (€) (2023)
Karlsruhe, Stadtkreis ranks 24 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Medianeinkommen der sozialversicherungspflichtig Vollzeitbeschäftigten in Euro
| Rank | Area | Median monthly gross wage, full-time employees (€) |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | Dingolfing-Landau | €4,419 |
| 22 | Mannheim, Stadtkreis | €4,413 |
| 23 | Leverkusen, Kreisfreie Stadt | €4,401 |
| 24 | Karlsruhe, Stadtkreis | €4,384 |
| 25 | Heidelberg, Stadtkreis | €4,365 |
| 26 | Esslingen | €4,340 |
| 27 | Biberach | €4,336 |
Purchasing power per resident (€ a year) (2023)
Karlsruhe, Stadtkreis ranks 123 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: Kaufkraft je Einwohner in Euro
| Rank | Area | Purchasing power per resident (€ a year) |
|---|---|---|
| 120 | Neuburg-Schrobenhausen | €30,464 |
| 121 | Braunschweig, Kreisfreie Stadt | €30,460 |
| 122 | Oldenburg, Landkreis | €30,460 |
| 123 | Karlsruhe, Stadtkreis | €30,439 |
| 124 | Ostholstein | €30,419 |
| 125 | Herford | €30,418 |
| 126 | St. Wendel | €30,416 |
Residents in insured jobs (% of working-age population) (2023)
Karlsruhe, Stadtkreis ranks 356 of 400, highest first. INKAR indicator: SV Beschäftigte am Wohnort je 100 Einwohner im erwerbsfähigen Alter in %
| Rank | Area | Residents in insured jobs (% of working-age population) |
|---|---|---|
| 353 | Heinsberg | 60.2% |
| 354 | Göttingen | 60.1% |
| 355 | Gießen, Landkreis | 60.1% |
| 356 | Karlsruhe, Stadtkreis | 60.1% |
| 357 | Düren | 60.0% |
| 358 | Bayreuth, Kreisfreie Stadt | 60.0% |
| 359 | Koblenz, Kreisfreie Stadt | 60.0% |
Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) (2023)
Karlsruhe, Stadtkreis ranks 268 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) |
|---|---|---|
| 265 | Fürth, Kreisfreie Stadt | 21.6% |
| 266 | Augsburg, Kreisfreie Stadt | 21.5% |
| 267 | Südwestpfalz | 21.5% |
| 268 | Karlsruhe, Stadtkreis | 21.4% |
| 269 | Dessau-Roßlau, Kreisfreie Stadt | 21.4% |
| 270 | Hamm, Kreisfreie Stadt | 20.8% |
| 271 | Fulda | 20.8% |
Share of output from finance, property and business services (2023)
Karlsruhe, Stadtkreis ranks 79 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from finance, property and business services |
|---|---|---|
| 76 | Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen | 26.7% |
| 77 | Region Hannover | 26.5% |
| 78 | Aichach-Friedberg | 26.5% |
| 79 | Karlsruhe, Stadtkreis | 26.3% |
| 80 | Fulda | 26.3% |
| 81 | Amberg-Sulzbach | 26.1% |
| 82 | Oberbergischer Kreis | 26.1% |
Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services (2023)
Karlsruhe, Stadtkreis ranks 261 of 400, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services |
|---|---|---|
| 258 | Lörrach | 20.6% |
| 259 | Hersfeld-Rotenburg | 20.6% |
| 260 | Kulmbach | 20.4% |
| 261 | Karlsruhe, Stadtkreis | 20.3% |
| 262 | Alzey-Worms | 20.3% |
| 263 | Miesbach | 20.3% |
| 264 | Ravensburg | 20.3% |
More on Karlsruhe, Stadtkreis: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · Baden-Württemberg · Germany
Sources
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_3gdp: GDP per person, PPS (NUTS 3), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 3bf0fc662f56…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_3gdp: GDP, million euros (NUTS 3), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 096e15e5fdb3…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_3empers: Employment, thousand people (NUTS 3), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 664e4e3a6dc0…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_3empers: Employment (thousand persons) by NUTS 3 region and industry, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 222a97c302d3…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_3gva: Gross value added at basic prices by NUTS 3 region and industry, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c656e8563bdf…)
- Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) im Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung: INKAR – Indikatoren und Karten zur Raum- und Stadtentwicklung: 43 district (Kreise) indicators, 2012-2024 (table service extract), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0c743f54caf6…)
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